Storage rack

ABSTRACT

A storage rack includes a shelf board on which an object to be stored is placed and which is installed so as to slidably move in a horizontal direction from a depth direction of a rack main body to a front direction, which is outside the rack main body, and a supporting structure, a movement of which is coupled with the sliding movement of the shelf board to support the shelf board which has been pulled out by the sliding movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage rack for storing objects.Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-293245,filed Dec. 28, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein byreference.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, when a power source is made up secondary batteries, aplurality of secondary battery is used to form a assembly battery. Whensecondary batteries are used as a power source for wind power stationsand various types of stationary appliances, the power source might bemade up the assembly battery that is made up of dozens of batteries. Inthis case, the plurality of secondary batteries are stored by beingarrayed on storage racks and connected to each other by bus-bars orelectric cables, for forming thereby constituting the assembly batteryThen, when it is necessary to maintenance or replacement, an operatortakes out the secondary batteries from the front of the storage rack inwhich the secondary batteries have been stored, and the operator putback the secondary batteries to the storage rack in which the secondarybatteries have been stored.

As a storage rack for storing an object to be stored such as theabove-described secondary battery, a storage rack has a sliding devicewhich supports the object to slide itself freely has been proposed(e.g., refer to Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application, FirstApplication No. S60-167550). As a sliding device, a slidable bar isprovided to the storage rack in Japanese Unexamined Utility ModelApplication, First Application No. S60-167550 inside the storage rack.And then, the object to be stored is placed on the sliding bar.Therefore, the object on the bar can be pulled out from the inside ofthe storage rack, when the bar is slid from the inside. Then, anoperator is able to take in and out the object in a storage rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, regarding the storage rack disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedUtility Model Application, First Application No. S60-167550, when theobject is slid with the sliding device, all weight of the object (i.e.,a load of the object to be stored) is applied to the sliding device.Therefore, when a heavy object such as a secondary battery is stored, ithas been difficult to stably support the object by the sliding device.For supporting the object stably, it is necessary to increase therigidity of the sliding device. However, this is results in an increasein weight of the storage rack and a difficulty in maintenance. They areproblem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, anobject of which is to provide a storage rack which is simple inconstitution and able to take out a heavy object such as a secondarybattery placed on a shelf board.

[Structure]

An aspect of the present invention is a storage rack for setting anobject to be stored (hereinafter referred as “the storage rack of thepresent invention”) comprising: a shelf board where the object is placedand which is able to slide in a horizontal direction from a rear side ofa rack main body to an outside of the rack main body toward a front sideof the rack main body; a supporting structure supporting the shelf boardby moving together with the shelf board when the shelf board is slid.

With the storage rack of the present invention, a heavy object can bemoved out from the storage rack (i.e., a rack main body) easily bypulling out and sliding the shelf board even if an object, which is aheavy object such as a secondary battery, is placed on the shelf board.Generally, when a shelf board on which an object to be stored has beenplaced is pulled out, the pulled-out shelf board is held like acantilever. It means that the shelf board is supported only at the baseend in the pulled-out direction. As a result, supporting of thepulled-out shelf board becomes unstable.

Because the storage rack of the present invention has a supportingstructure, a movement of which is coupled with the sliding movement ofthe shelf board, the supporting structure is able to support the shelfboard which has been pulled out from the storage rack. Thereby, evenwhen a heavy object is placed on the shelf board, it is possible tostably support the pulled-out shelf board. Further, as described above,because the shelf board can be stably supported by the supportingstructure, supporting the shelf board by moving together with the shelfboard, it is possible to simplify a structure of a slide guide, whichslidably supports the shelf board at side ends of the shelf board and astructure of the shelf board, which directly supports the object to bestored.

Effect of the Invention

With the storage rack of the present invention, the object to be storedcan be pulled out in a state where the object is stably supported on ashelf board even if the object is a heavy object such as a secondarybattery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a storage rack of a first embodimentor a second embodiment of the present invention, which is installedinside a container and which stores batteries.

FIG. 2 illustrates front view with taken along the line X1 to X1 in FIG.1 of the storage rack of the first embodiment or the second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a shelf board which is pulled-out fromthe storage rack of the first embodiment or the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates of shows a supporting structure of the storage rackof the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates front view with taken along the line X1 to X1 in FIG.4 of the supporting structure of the storage rack of the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a shelf board is pulled out from the storage rack ofthe first embodiment of the present invention and that a fitting body isfitted into a second fitting recessed site.

FIG. 7 illustrates a state that the shelf board is pulled out from thestorage rack of the first embodiment of the present invention and thatthe fitting body which has been fitted into the second fitting recessedsite is drawn out from the second fitting recessed site by operating anoperation part.

FIG. 8 illustrates a state that the shelf board is pulled out from thestorage rack of the first embodiment of the present invention and thatthe fitting body is fitted into a third fitting recessed site.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified example of the supporting structure of thestorage rack of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates the modified example of the supporting structure ofthe storage rack of the first embodiment of the present invention andthat the supporting structure constituted in order that a handle and alever member work together.

FIG. 11 illustrates an arrow view taken along the line X1 to X1 in FIG.10.

FIG. 12 illustrates a supporting structure of a storage rack of thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a front view with taken along the line X1 to X1 inFIG. 12 and that the supporting structure of the storage rack of thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates that a state that a shelf board is pulled out fromthe storage rack of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are a view of a linking part of the supportingstructure of the storage rack of the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the Invention

Hereinafter, a description will be Liven of the storage rack of thefirst embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to8.

FIG. 1 illustrates a movable battery unit 100 including a plurality ofbatteries.

As shown in FIG. 1, the battery unit 100 includes box-shaped container2, a pair of storage racks 10, 11 arranged inside the container 2, and aplurality of batteries 1 on the storage racks 10, 11. The batteries 1are examples as objects to be stored. The battery 1 is not limited toany particular type. For example, if may be a secondary battery or afuel cell. Here, directional axes used in the following description willbe defined as follows. An X axis direction, a Y axis direction and a Zaxis direction are there is enough space respectively given as a widthdirection T2 of the storage rack, a depth direction T3 of the storagerack, and a vertical direction T1 of the storage rack.

In the present embodiment, the pair of storage racks 10, 11 inside thecontainer 2 are installed together along the longitudinal direction ofthe container 2, there is enough space between the storage racks. Thespace between the pair of storage racks 10, 11 forms an aisle 3 which iswide enough for an operator to pass through.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the storage racks 10, 11 includes thea frame (i.e., rack main body) 4 fixed on the floor surface of thecontainer 2, a plurality of shelf boards 5 attached to the frame 4 in amultiple stage at predetermined intervals in a vertical direction T1,and a slide guide 6 for supporting the shelf board 5 and for beingslidable with respect to the frame 4. The plurality of shelf boards 5are installed at each of the stages along a horizontal direction T2which is the width direction of the storage racks 10, 11 (i.e., rackmain bodies). A side wall 7 attached to the frame 4 is also installed onboth side end sides of each of the shelf boards 5.

Further, the slide guides 6 are extended in a horizontal direction T3which is the depth direction of each of the storage racks 10, 11 andinstalled to make a pair corresponding to each of the shelf boards 5.Then, each of the shelf boards 5 is supported at the both side endsthereof by the corresponding pair of slide guides 6 in order to slidablymove in the horizontal direction T3.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the shelf boards 5 is installed thatis guided by the slide guides 6 and slidably move from a correspondingstorage rack between the storage racks 10, 11 to the aisle 3 side thatcan be pulled outward in the horizontal direction T3 from the storageracks 10, 11.

In the storage racks 10, 11 of the present embodiment configured asexplained above, two of the batteries 1 are arrange and placed on theshelf boards 5 along the horizontal direction T3 as shown in FIGS. 1 to3. Further, the pair of batteries 1 placed on the same shelf board 5 areelectrically connected by a plate-shaped bus bar which is Figures. Stillfurther, the pairs of batteries 1 placed on different shelf boards 5 areelectrically connected. For example, they are connected by a freelyextendable cable formed in a helical shape which is Figures. Thus, theplurality of batteries 1 is connected in series or in parallel, to formassemble batteries.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, in the storage racks 10, 11 of the presentembodiment, the shelf boards 5 is guided by the the pair of slide guides6 and is able to be pulled out to the aisle 3 side. The batteries 1placed on the shelf boards 5 can be taken out from the correspondingstorage rack at position where is on the aisle 3.

At this time, because the cable is formed to be freely extendable,irrespective of a change in the relative position of the batteries 1belonging to two different shelf boards 5, the batteries 1 placed oneach of the shelf boards 5 can be taken out from the storage racks 10,11 without removing the cable.

Here, the plurality of batteries 1 placed on a shelf board 5 is heavyobjects. Therefore, when the shelf board 5 is simply slid and be pulledout the aisle 3, the shelf board 5 become like cantilever and isunstable. As a result, it is difficult to replace the batteries 1, andto do scheduled maintenance or the like.

On the other hand, in the storage racks 10, 11 of the presentembodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a supporting structure 8 movewith the shelf board sliding along with the slid guide 6. The supportingstructure 8 is installed on each of the shelf boards 5. A handle 9 isfixed on the shelf board 5. Therefore an operator can grip the handle 9,and control to make the shelf board 5 slidably moved along the aisle 3.

The supporting structure 8 of the storage rack of the present embodimentinclude a guide part 15 formed at one side end of the rack main body 4,a rod-shaped supporting part 16 for supporting the shelf board 5 that isable to slidably move along the slide guides 6, and an operation part 17for operating the supporting part 16.

The guide part 15 includes a guide groove which is recessed to an outersurface side from an inner surface of one of the side walls 7. The guidegroove 15 is formed from a rear end 7 a side in the depth direction T3of one of the side walls 7 (i.e., approximately at the middle on therear side of the rack main body) to a front end 7 b (i.e., to the frontside of the rack main body). The guide groove ascends gradually from therear end 7 a side in the depth direction T3 to the front end 7 b.Further, the fitting recessed sites 18, 19, 20 are formed on an upwardfacing surface 15 a of the guide groove. The upward facing surface 15 ais a side of guide groove with faces upward. These fitting recessedsites 18, 19, 20 are formed downward along the inclined surface (i.e.,guide surface) 15 a.

Then, the guide groove (i.e., a guide part) 15 of the storage shelf ofthe present embodiment includes a first fitting recessed site 18 at thelowest end and, a second lowest fitting recessed site 19, and a thirdlowest fitting recessed site 20 between the lower end and the upper end,with a predetermined interval.

The supporting part 16 includes a supporting rod 16 a, the upper endside of which is pivotably connected to one side end of the shelf board5, and a fitting body 16 b which is a connect shape, formed installedintegrally at the lower end side of the supporting rod 16 a, and whichis able to be fitted into or caught by the fitting recessed sites 18,19, 20 according to being guided by the guide groove 15.

The upper end side of the supporting rod 16 a is pivotably connected toone side end of the shelf board 5 with a first hinge 21. Therefore, thesupporting rod 16 a is allowed to turn along the inner surface of one ofthe side walls 7 with respect to the shelf board 5. Further, theposition of the first hinge 21 is placed between the guide groove 15 andthe front end of the storage rack 10 horizontally in T3 direction inFIG. 4, when the shelf board 5 is pushed in (i.e., when the shelf board5 is completely housed in the rack main body, and the fitting body 16 bis caught by the first fitting recessed site 18).

The fitting body 16 b is formed to project outside in a directionperpendicular to the axis of the supporting rod 16 a (i.e.,approximately the inner surface side of one of the side walls 7).Further, the fitting body 16 b is formed in a cylindrical shape. One endthe fitting body 16 b is a inserted and engaged into the guide groove.

The operation part 17 includes a lever member 23, which is pivotablyconnected to the front part of one side end of the shelf board 5 in thedepth direction T3 with a second hinge 22, and a pressing member 25which is pivotably connected to the front part of one side end of theshelf board 5 in the depth direction T3 with a third hinge 24.

The lever member 23 is formed substantially in a rod shape and extendsto both sides horizontally from the second hinge 22.

The lever member 23 has two portions. A portion closer to the front endof the rack main body 4 is a lever part 23 a. The lever part 23 a isable to be turned by an operator's hand. Another portion closer to therear end of the rack main body 4 is a pressing part 23 b.

The pressing member 25 is formed substantially in an L-shaped andpivotably connected to one side end of the shelf board 5 with the thirdhinge 24. The third hinge 24 is arranged between the first hinge 21 andthe second hinge 22 in the depth direction 13. Similar to the levermember 23, the pressing member 25 has two portions. Instead of thelocation of the second hinge 22, the third hinge 24 defines the boundaryof the two portions. Another portion closer to the front end of the rackmain body 4 is a lever pressing part 25 a. A portion closer to the rearend of the rack main body 4 is a supporting rod pressing part 25 b. Thelever pressing part 25 a is placed below to and near the pressing part23 b of the lever member 23. The supporting rod pressing part 25 b isplaced close to the supporting rod 16 a and on the front side of thesupporting rod 16 a.

In the storage racks 10, 11 of the present embodiment, there areincluded the above-constituted supporting structure 8 as shown in FIG.4. When the batteries 1 are placed on the shelf board 5 which isarranged inside the frame 4, the fitting body 16 b is fitted into thefirst fitting recessed site 18 of the guide groove 15. As shown in FIG.6, when the batteries 1 are tried to be replaced, during themaintenance, the shelf board 5 on which the batteries 1 are placed ispulled out from the frame 4. When the shelf boards is being pulled outthe supporting rod 16 a is moved together according to the movement ofthe shelf board 5, by pivoting at the first hinge 21, and the fittingbody 16 b comes out or escapes from the first fitting recessed site 18.When the shelf board 5 is pulled out further from the frame 4, thefitting body 16 b moves toward the front end of the storage racks 10, 11along the guide groove 15.

Then, when the fitting body 16 b reaches to the second fitting recessedsite 19, the supporting rod 16 a and the fitting body 16 b pivot at thefirst hinge 21 due to their own weight, and the fitting body 16 b istrapped and caught by the second fitting recessed site 19. Thereby, theshelf board 5 is supported by the supporting rod 16 a, because the upperend of the supporting rod 16 is connected to the shelf board 5 and thelower-end side fitting body 16 b is fitted into and caught by the secondfitting recessed site 19. Thus, even when the heavy batteries (i.e.,objects to be stored) 1 are placed on the shelf board 5, the loads arereceived by the supporting rod 16 a and transferred through the fittingbody 16 b and the guide groove 15 to the side wall 7 and the frame 4. Itis, thereby, possible to support the batteries 1 in a stable state.

Then, when the shelf board 5 is further instead to be pulled out fromthe frame 4, as shown in FIG. 7, an operator manually raises the leverpart 23 a of the lever member 23 at the operation part 17. This actionallows the lever member 23 to turn on the second hinge 22. Because thelever member 23 is operated as described above, the pressing part 23 bof the lever member 23 presses the lever pressing part 25 a of thepressing member 25 downward. Therefore, the pressing member 25 turns ondirection by the third hinge 24, the supporting rod pressing part 25 bof the pressing member 25 presses the supporting rod 16 a upward,consequently the supporting rod 16 a turns on the first hinge 21 and thefitting body 16 b comes out or escapes from the second fitting recessedsite 19. Therefore, an operator is able to pull the shelf board 5 out byusing the handle 9. In addition, the fitting body 16 b is guided by theguide groove 15 and moves further forward and upward.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the shelf board 5 is further pulled outthe aisle 3, the fitting body 16 b is trapped and caught by the thirdfitting recessed site 20. Therefore, the shelf board 5 is supported bythe supporting rod 16 a, because the upper end side of the supportingrod 16 a is connected to the shelf board 5 and the lower-end sidefitting body 16 b is fitted into the third fitting recessed site 20. Inaddition, even when the heavy batteries 1 are placed on the shelf board5, the loads are received by the supporting rod 16 a and transferredthrough the fitting body 16 b and the guide groove 15 to the side wall 7and the frame 4. Therefore, it is possible to support the batteries 1stably. Thereby, the replacement of the batteries 1 and its maintenancecan be suitably carried out.

After that, when an operator intend to insert the shelf board 5 insidethe frame 4, the operator manually raises the lever member 23 of theoperation part 17, and presses the shelf board 5 inside. Therefore, thefitting body 16 b is guided by the guide groove 15 and moves backwardand downward. In the meantime, the shelf board 5 slidably moves insidethe storage racks 10, 11 and is duly stored.

Therefore, according to the storage racks 10, 11 of the presentembodiment, the object to be stored 1 can be easily moved out from thestorage racks 10, 11 by pulling out the shelf board 5, even if theobject is a heavy object such as a secondary battery.

Furthermore, the object to be stored 1 can be pulled out in a statewhere the object is stably supported on a shelf board 5 even if theobject is a heavy object such as a secondary battery, since the shelfboard 5 is provided with the supporting structure 8, a movement of whichis coupled with the sliding movement of the shelf board 5 to support theshelf board 5. Still further, since the shelf board 5 can be stablysupported by the supporting structure 8, a movement of which is coupledwith the movement of the shelf board 5, it is possible to simplify astructure of a slide guide 6, which slidably supports the shelf board atside edges of the shelf board and a structure of the shelf board 5,which directly supports the object to be stored 1.

Further, when the shelf board 5 is allowed to slidably move, thesupporting part 16, the upper end of which is pivotably connected to theside edge of the shelf board 5, pivots. Then, the fitting body 16 b atthe lower end side of the supporting part 16 moves inside the guidegroove 15 and is trapped in the fitting recessed sites 18, 19, 20.Thereby, loads of the pulled-out shelf board 5 can be received andsupported by the supporting part 16. Even when the heavy objects to bestored 1 are placed on the shelf board 5, it is possible to stablysupport (retain) the pulled-out shelf board 5.

Furthermore, by turning the lever member 23 of the operation part 15,the supporting part 16 can be pressed to be pivoted. Thus, the fittingbody 16 b can be easily released from the entrapped state in the fittingrecessed sites 19, 20 by turning the lever member 23 to pull out thefitting body 16 b from the fitting recessed sites 19, 20. As a result,the shelf board 5 can make a sliding movement by letting the fittingbody 16 b moving along the guide groove 15.

Thus, by using the storage racks 10, 11 of the present invention, fastand flexible response can be made in replacement and maintenanceoperations of the batteries 1, since the pulled-out shelf board 5 isstably supported and each of the batteries 1 can be easily accessed withan operator in a case where a large number of the batteries 1 are setinside the container 2 and used by being placed on the shelf board 5.

The first embodiment of the storage rack of the present invention isexplained above. However, the storage rack of the present inventionshall not be limited to the above-described first embodiment. Thestorage rack of the present invention may be changed whenever necessarywithin a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, the three fitting recessed sites18, 19, 20 are provided on the upward facing surface of the guide groove15. However, the fitting recessed sites are not in particular limited tothe number and the position thereof.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, an intersecting angle θ formed between asurface of the fitting recessed sites 19, 20 facing to the back of eachof the storage racks 10, 11 and the guide surface may be made obtuse. Atthis time, when the shelf board 5 is pulled out from the storage racks10, 11, it is possible to reduce force necessary for releasing thefitting body 16 b from the fitting recessed sites 19, 20 and increasethe usability.

Further, in the present embodiment, as to the supporting structure 8 ofstorage racks 10, 11, an operator manually raises the lever part 23 a ofthe lever member 23 at the operation part 17, and the supporting rod 16a of supporting part 16 to pivot and then the operator separately pullsand pushes the handle 9 to take in and out the shelf board 5.

However, the supporting structure 8 of storage racks 10, 11 it ispossible to form a structure to make, the lever member 23 to worktogether with the supporting rod 16 a when an operator grips the handle9. More specifically, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, thehandle 9 is extended along the width direction T2 and connected to leverpart 23 a of the lever member 23 and a turning shaft 26 of the shelfboard 5. According to this structure, when an operator grips and raisesthe handle 9, the handle 9 pivots the turning shaft 26 and the secondhinge 22. At this time the lever member 23 work together. Therefore, itis possible to move, the supporting rod 16 a upward. Further, anoperator is able to pull and push the handle 9 while gripping andraising the handle 9, for taking in and out the shelf board 5. It ispossible to take in and out the shelf board 5 more easily than thepresent embodiment and also increase the usability.

In the present embodiment, a description has been given on theassumption that the storage racks 10, 11 are installed inside thecontainer 2 and used for storing the batteries 1 such as secondarybatteries. However, the storage rack of the present invention shall notbe limited to the use of storing the batteries 1 and is, of course,applicable to any and all places for storing (placing) any objects to bestored.

Next, a description will be given of the storage rack of the secondembodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG. 12 to FIG.15B. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment onlyabout the supporting structure. Therefore, in the present embodiment,the same reference numerals will be given to the same structures asthose of the first embodiment, and a detailed description omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, a supporting structure 30 of thepresent embodiment includes guide part 31 which is a substantiallycylindrical rod-shaped, a substantially tubular linking part 32, and arod-shaped supporting part 34. Both end of the guide part 31 are fixedto one of side walls 7 or the frame 4 of each of the storage racks 10.11. The guide part 31 is inserted into the linking part 32, and thelinking part 32 is guided by the guide part 31 and allowed to moveforward and backward along the guide part 31. Further, the linking part32 is fixable to the guide part 31. One end of the supporting part 34 isconnected to one side end of the shelf board 5 in order to pivot on afirst hinge 33. Another end of the supporting part 4 is pivotablyconnected to the linking part 32. Therefore the shelf board 5 is able toslidably move along slide guides 6.

One end of guide part 31 of the present embodiment is fixed in front ofthe other end itself and the one end is in the depth direction T3.

The linking part 32 is formed into a substantially tubular tube shape.The linking part 32 has two portions has that are formed by cutting thetubular tube to blocks along the axis line. The two blocks (i.e., theblock 32 a and the block 32 b) are coupled with an elastic member 32 cto form a substantially tubular shape. Then, the linking part 32 isattached in such a manner that the guide part 31 is inserted through aninner hole formed by the block 32 a and the block 32 b. As a result, theguide part 31 is retained by the block 32 a and the block 32 b on theguide part 31.

In the linking part 32, the lower end of the supporting part 34 isconnected to the block 32 a in order to pivot on a second hinge 35. Whenan operator lifts a shelf board 5, the linking part 32 can be releasedand become to move as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B. When the operatorstops lifting the shelf board 5, a force is generated for one dividedblock 32 a to move closer to the other divided block 32 b due to theloads transferred from the supporting part 34. Therefore, the guide part31 is clamped and retained by both of the blocks 32 a and 32 b.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15A, a crosssection of an inner surface 32 d of the block 32 a in the plane parallelto the directions T1 and T2 is formed in L-shape or bended-shape. Whenthe linking part 32 is locked on the guide part 31 as shown in FIG. 15A,the upper half portion of the inner surface 32 d aligns parallel to theouter surface of the guide part 31 and is pressed and contacted to thesurface that is parallel to the outer surface 32 e of the block 32 a. Onthe other hand, the lower half portion of the inner surface 32 d isformed with a gradual inclination toward the outer surface 32 e,increasing the diameter of the inner hole of the linking part 32downward. In addition, the upper end portion of the block 32 a, and thelower end part of the supporting part 34 is pivotably connected to theupper part end portion of the block 32 a with the second hinge 35.

As shown in FIG. 15A, as to the linking part 32, the guide part 31 isclamped and retained by both the upper end of the block 32 a and theinner surface 32 d of the other block 32 b. On the other hand, as shownin FIG. 15B, when the supporting part 34 is allowed to pivot on thefirst hinge 33, the upper end side of the block 32 a is detached fromthe guide part 3 the upper-end side inner surface 32 d of the block 32is able to move from the outer surface of the guide part 31. Therefore,the linking part 32 is released from the guide part 31. At this time,the lower-end side inner surface 32 d of the block 32 a moves closer tothe outer surface of the guide part 31.

In the storage racks 10, 11 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.14, when an operator lifts the shelf board 5 and pulls the handle 9, theshelf board 5, on which the batteries 1 are placed, is able to be pulledout from the storage racks 10, 11. When the shelf board 5 is pulled outfrom the storage racks 10, 11, the upper end side of the supporting part34 is pulled together with the shelf board 5. As described above, whenthe supporting part 34 is pulled, the block 32 a of the linking part 32moves to increase the diameter of the inner hole of the linking part 32.Thereby, state of the linking part 32 is released and the linking part32 is guided by the guide part 31 and is able to move upward.

Then, when an operator pulls out the shelf board 5 to a desired positionand stops the sliding movement of the shelf board 5, the supporting part34 and the block 32 a of the linking part 32 are no longer pulled. As aresult, the diameter of the inner hole of the linking part 32 isreduced, and the linking part 32 is locked on the guide part 31.Consequently, loads of the shelf board 5 are received by the supportingpart 34 and guide part 31, even if the shelf board 5, on which the heavybatteries 1 are placed, is pulled out in an intended distance and theshelf board 5 is stably supported.

On the other hand, when the shelf board 5 is stored and inserted in thestorage racks 10, 11, an operator lifts the shelf board 5 and presses tthe shelf board 5 slidably to the storage racks 10, 11. Thereby, whileturning by the first hinge 33, the upper end side of the supporting part34 is pressed inside together with the shelf board 5. Then, as describedabove, the upper end side of the supporting part 34 is pressed inside,by which the lower end side of the supporting part 34 is presseddownward while being turned by the second hinge 35.

Further, when an operator stores the shelf board 5 into the storageracks 10,11 and inside to stop the sliding movement, one divided block32 a undergoes displacement so as to move closer to the other dividedblock 32 b due to the restoring force of the elastic member 32 c and dueto the loads derived from the supporting part 34. Therefore, the innerhole of the linking part 32 is reduced in diameter. Thereby, the linkingpart 32 is locked and fixed to the guide part 31. The loads of the shelfboard 5 are received by the supporting part 34 and the guide part 31, bywhich the shelf board 5 is supported in a stable state and stored in thestorage racks 10, 11.

Therefore, even when heavy objects such as secondary batteries areplaced on the shelf board 5, by pulling out the shelf board 5, theobjects can be taken out easily from the storage racks 10, 11.

Further, each of the storage racks 10, 11 of the present embodimentincludes the supporting structure 30, a movement of which is coupledwith the sliding movement of the shelf board 5 to support the shelfboard 5. Therefore, even when the heavy objects are placed on the shelfboard 5, it is possible to stably support the pulled-out shelf board 5.Still further, because the shelf board 5 can be stably supported by thesupporting structure 30, it is possible to simplify a structure of theslide guide 6 which supports at the base end the shelf board 5 or astructure of the shelf board 5 which directly supports the objects to bestored 1.

In addition, in the storage racks 10, 11 of the present embodiment, whenthe shelf board 5 is allowed to slidably move, the supporting part 34turns, the upper end side of which is connected to one side end of theshelf board 5 so as to turn. Thereby, the linking part 32 connected tothe lower end side of the supporting part 34 is allowed to move forwardand backward along the guide part 31. Then, upon stop of the slidingmovement of the shelf board 5, the linking part 32 is fixed to the guidepart 31. Thereby, loads of the pulled-out shelf board 5 can be receivedand supported from the supporting part 34 to the linking part 32 andfrom the linking part 32 to the guide part 31. Thus, even when the heavyobjects are placed on the shelf board 5, it is possible to stablysupport the pulled-out shelf board 5.

Further, the supporting structure 30 is able to support and retain theshelf board 5 which has been pulled out to a desired position, withoutany restriction on a pulled-out amount of the shelf board 5. Stillfurther, the supporting rod of the second embodiment is smoother inmotion and better in operating performance than that of the firstembodiment.

Thus, when a large number of the batteries 1 are set inside thecontainer 2 and used by being placed on the shelf board 5, and when thebatteries 1 have deteriorated or are damaged or regular maintenance isto be carried out, an operator is able to retain the pulled-out shelfboard 5 in a stable state and gain access to the batteries 1 easily. Itis thus, possible to replace the batteries 1 or perform maintenance workquickly and flexibly.

A description has been so far given of the second embodiment of thestorage rack of the present invention, however, the present inventionshall not be limited to the above-described second embodiment. Thepresent invention may be changed whenever necessary within a scope notdeparting from the gist of the present invention without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not tobe considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is onlylimited by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A storage rack for setting object to be stored comprising: a shelfboard where the object is placed and which is able to slide in ahorizontal direction from a rear side of a rack main body to an outsideof the rack main body toward a front side of the rack main body; asupporting structure supporting the shelf board by moving together withthe shelf board when the shelf board is slid.
 2. A storage rackaccording to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure comprises: aguide part arranged on a part of the rack main body where is a side endof the shelf board; a supporting part supporting the shelf board, bymoving together with the shelf board when the shelf board is slid; andan operation part for operating the supporting part, wherein, the guidepart comprises a guide groove, which has a gradual upward inclinationfrom the rear side to the front side and of which a surface facingupward has a fitting recessed site dented downward; the supporting parthas an end which is located upward and is connected to side end of theshelf board, and has a fitting body at the other end of the supportingpart, which moves along with the guide groove and fits into the fittingrecessed site.
 3. A storage rack according to claim 1, wherein thesupporting structure comprises: a guide part arranged on a part of therack main body where is a side end of the shelf board; a supporting partsupporting the shelf board, by moving together with the shelf board whenthe shelf board is slid; and a linking part for linking the guide partand the supporting part, wherein, the guide part is fixed to a side endof the rack main body with a gradual upward inclination from the rearside to the front side of the rack main body; the supporting part has anend which is connected to a side of the shelf board and has another andlocated downward which is connected to the linking part; and the linkingpart moves together with the supporting part when the supporting partmoves pivotably.
 4. A storage rack according to claim 1, wherein thesupporting structure comprises: a guide part arranged on a part of therack main body where is a side end of the shelf board; a supporting parthaving rod shape and supporting the shelf board by moving together withthe shelf board when the shelf board is slid; and an operation part foroperating the supporting part, wherein, the guide part comprises a guidegroove, which has a gradual upward inclination from the rear side to thefront side and of which an surface facing upward has a fitting recessedsite dented downward; the supporting part has an end which is locatedupward and is pivotably connected to the side end of the shelf board andhas a fitting body at the other end of the supporting part, which movesalong with the guide groove and fits into the fitting recessed site; theoperation part comprises a lever member and a pressing member, both ofwhich are provided on the side end of the shelf board and able to pivotand; the pressing member for pressing the supporting part to pivotduring being pressed by the lever member when the lever member is madeto pivot.
 5. A storage rack according to claim 1, wherein the supportingstructure comprises: a guide part arranged on a part of the rack mainbody where is a side end of the shelf board; a supporting part having arod shape and supporting the shelf board by moving together with theshelf board when the shelf board is slid; and a linking part for linkingthe guide part and the supporting part, wherein, the guide part is fixedto a side end of the rack main body with a gradual upward inclinationfrom the rear side to the front side of the rack main body; thesupporting part has an end which is pivotably connected to a side of theshelf board and has another and located downward which is connected tothe linking part; and the linking part moves together with thesupporting part forward or backward when the supporting part movespivotably.